Chapter 619: Saint Body vs Saint Body
Mu Lingxi's speed was astonishingly fast. In the blink of an eye, she flew above the cyan sacred cloud and let out a sharp cry: "First Form of the Ethereal Sword Art, Cloud-Splitting Heaven-Opener."
The white sacred sword radiated a layer of brilliant light, the power of the sacred artifact fully unleashed. With a single slash through the void, it formed a dozens-of-meters-long river of sword energy, tearing downward.
"Hua!"
The sword energy, like a heavenly river, collided with the cyan cloud sacred qi, instantly triggering a fierce clash of air currents.
The impact of that violent collision unleashed a force that threatened to send the heretical cultivators below flying.
"So formidable! To actually be able to contend with the Azure-Clad Star Envoy's Azure Cloud Saint Body, who is this person? Could she be a helper invited by the Great Protector?"
Shi Buchou looked up, his gaze fixed on Mu Lingxi, a sense of awe rising within him.
No one understood the terror of the Azure-Clad Star Envoy better than he did. When he had fought her earlier, he had felt an overwhelming pressure he simply couldn't withstand.
That Mu Lingxi could fight the Azure-Clad Star Envoy to a standstill showed just how powerful she was.
The Azure-Clad Star Envoy, however, was even more shocked. She had never expected another masked expert to suddenly appear. And judging by her figure, she was clearly a woman.
Could there be a female cultivator among the younger generation of the entire Eastern Domain who could rival her?
Suddenly, the Azure-Clad Star Envoy's gaze sharpened, a look of realization dawning on her face. She sneered, "So it's Her Highness the Saintess. I was wondering when the Eastern Domain's evil lands had produced another top-tier proud daughter of heaven. The last time we fought, you weren't this strong, were you?"
Mu Lingxi stood atop the cyan sacred cloud, smiling. "Why are you so foolish? Because last time, I was deliberately holding back."
"Holding back? Your Highness the Saintess is far too arrogant. In that case, I have no reason to show mercy."
The Azure-Clad Star Envoy's eyes darkened. She immediately changed her technique, holding the cyan sacred sword vertically before her. Her body seemed to merge with the sword, transforming into a beam of light that shot straight into the sky.
"Sword One."
The cyan beam erupted with immense penetrating power, piercing through the river of sword energy and thrusting toward Mu Lingxi's brow.
Zhang Ruochen's eyes showed a hint of surprise. He had read books recording insights on Sword One and, though he hadn't fully comprehended it, he had some understanding of its sword dao mysteries.
Thus, he recognized it the moment the Azure-Clad Star Envoy used Sword One.
According to Xuanji Sword Saint, in the past thousand years, only thirty-four cultivators in the Fish-Dragon Realm had mastered Sword One to Great Perfection. This showed just how profound Sword One was.
The Sword One the Azure-Clad Star Envoy displayed, though far from Great Perfection, was still immensely powerful. Combined with her Azure Cloud Saint Body, it unleashed unparalleled penetrating force.
Mu Lingxi's talent was extraordinary, but the Azure-Clad Star Envoy was also a Saint Body, standing at the very peak of the same cultivation realm. Moreover, the Azure-Clad Star Envoy was older, at least fifteen years Mu Lingxi's senior.
There was an age gap between them.
For old monsters who had cultivated for centuries, a fifteen-year gap meant little. But for young cultivators, a fifteen-year difference couldn't be bridged by talent alone.
Could Mu Lingxi withstand the Azure-Clad Star Envoy's Sword One?
"If they fought openly, the Azure-Clad Star Envoy's strength would be a cut above the Hunter's."
Zhang Ruochen began quietly gathering his spells, ready to intervene if Mu Lingxi was in danger.
Mu Lingxi remained calm and composed, smiling. "The Azure Cloud Saint Body is indeed extraordinary. To have even cultivated Sword One to the fourth level, no wonder you're one of the Seven Fiend Star Envoys. Not bad, truly not bad. But I, too, am a Saint Body, and it seems I'm quite a bit stronger than you."
Mu Lingxi began circulating the Eight Wastelands Six Directions Art. The true qi in her meridians flowed rapidly, and at the center of her brow, a phoenix mark like a flame appeared, frantically absorbing the world's spiritual energy.
An icy cold aura erupted from her body, forming a massive phantom of an ice phoenix. It spread its wings and swooped downward.
"Chi chi!"
As the ice phoenix materialized, a terrifying cold current surged forth, freezing most of the Drifting Sand Canyon. The canyon floor and cliffs on both sides were coated in a thick layer of ice.
The heretical cultivators at the canyon's bottom looked up in shock. They saw a giant ancient ice phoenix clashing with a patch of cyan sacred cloud, creating wave after wave of earth-shattering energy ripples. They all felt the ground tremble.
"That's... the Ice Phoenix Ancient Saint Body! Legend says it can unleash the power of an ancient phoenix, even stronger than the Azure Cloud Saint Body." Shi Buchou's eyes widened. He finally understood why Mu Lingxi could rival the Azure-Clad Star Envoy—she possessed such a terrifying physique.
Zhang Ruochen looked thoughtful. From the battle, he could roughly gauge Mu Lingxi's cultivation level: the peak of the Fifth Change of the Fish-Dragon Realm.
Even if the Ice Phoenix Ancient Saint Body was formidable, Zhang Ruochen didn't think Mu Lingxi could use it to contend with the Azure-Clad Star Envoy, who was at the Seventh Change of the Fish-Dragon Realm.
Unless... unless Mu Lingxi had reached the Unrivaled Extreme Realm in some stage.
At that thought, the corner of Zhang Ruochen's mouth lifted in a knowing smile. He mused that his understanding of Senior Sister Duanmu had only scratched the surface.
"Now is the best time to kill the Azure-Clad Star Envoy. If we eliminate her, we can severely weaken Di Yi's strength."
The Red Desire Star Envoy wasted no time. She gripped her Crystal Sacred Staff, released her spiritual power, and cast a first-level spell.
"Wind Surging Clouds Rising."
Around the Red Desire Star Envoy, wisps of vortex-like wind force appeared, lifting her body and sending her rapidly upward.
In moments, the two-person battle became a three-way fight among the Red Desire Star Envoy, Mu Lingxi, and the Azure-Clad Star Envoy.
The three women were all graceful beauties, and their battle was like a beautiful painting, every movement exuding an indescribable elegance.
Zhang Ruochen shook his head, having no desire to join in.
Let women settle their fights in their own way.
Besides, the Red Desire Star Envoy's illusion techniques and Mu Lingxi's Ice Phoenix Ancient Saint Body were both capable of matching the Azure-Clad Star Envoy. Together, they had already forced her onto the defensive.
It was only a matter of time before the Azure-Clad Star Envoy was defeated.
Zhang Ruochen lost interest and flew downward, landing at the bottom of the Drifting Sand Canyon, hovering three zhang above the ground.
"Greetings, Great Protector."
The heretical cultivators below all bowed respectfully to Zhang Ruochen, including Shi Buchou and Xu Hong, both at the Ninth Change of the Fish-Dragon Realm.
It had to be said that Zhang Ruochen's displayed strength had earned their recognition and approval.
"No need for formalities. The battle isn't over yet."
Zhang Ruochen held a thunder bead in his hand, his eyes fixed on the Glass Knight Commander and the seven Glass Knight Generals on the other side of the canyon. Finally, his gaze settled on the Glass Knight Commander, and he called out, "The Azure-Clad Star Envoy's defeat is certain. Will you still fight?"
The Glass Knight Commander, Zhao Hanhu, gave Zhang Ruochen a cold look. "You are indeed strong, but compared to the Young Master, there's still a considerable gap."
Zhang Ruochen replied, "But where is your Young Master now?"
Zhao Hanhu only snorted coldly and said nothing more.
"Zhao Hanhu, you're too stubborn. In that case, I'll take your life."
The Blood Cloud Sect Leader, Xu Hong, strode forward with overwhelming momentum, pushing his palm out in a Mountain-Collapsing Seal to attack Zhao Hanhu.
With every step Xu Hong took, it felt like the sky was falling and the earth was caving in, shaking the entire canyon.
"Hua!"
Zhao Hanhu immediately grabbed the long spear stuck in the yellow sand, channeling his true qi through his palm to envelop the weapon.
The thick metal spear, as wide as a bowl, glowed with a dark light. In Zhao Hanhu's hands, it became like a steel dragon, thrusting out rapidly.
Both Xu Hong and Zhao Hanhu were renowned heretical figures at the Ninth Change of the Fish-Dragon Realm. Their clash was earth-shattering, unleashing immense destructive force that forced both sides to retreat hastily.
"Cultivators at the Ninth Change of the Fish-Dragon Realm are indeed formidable. Every strike has the power to shatter mountains and split the earth," Zhang Ruochen thought to himself.
Earlier, Zhang Ruochen had easily wounded the Hunter severely, largely because he wore the Meteor Invisibility Cloak, giving him a huge speed advantage.
The Hunter had clearly not expected a spiritual power master to be so fast, so he was knocked unconscious before he could react.
If Zhang Ruochen were to fight an old-timer like Xu Hong or Zhao Hanhu, victory wouldn't come so easily.
Another cultivator at the Ninth Change of the Fish-Dragon Realm was present: Shi Buchou.
As Xu Hong and Zhao Hanhu clashed, Shi Buchou slipped between their battle circles to attack the seven Glass Knight Generals, quickly forming another battlefield.
The seven Glass Knight Generals were also formidable. Forming the "Seven Stars Surrounding the Moon" combined attack formation, they fought Shi Buchou to a standstill.
The three battlefields raged on, locked in a stalemate.
Time passed, and half an hour later, the battle between Shi Buchou and the seven Glass Knight Generals ended first.
The combined attack formation of the seven Glass Knight Generals was indeed powerful, but it couldn't withstand the assault of a heretical big shot at the Ninth Change of the Fish-Dragon Realm.
In the end, all seven Glass Knight Generals fell, lying in pools of blood, their corpses scattered across the ground.
The battle in the sky had also concluded.
The Red Desire Star Envoy and Mu Lingxi joined forces, severely wounding the Azure-Clad Star Envoy and sending her plummeting from midair.
But before she hit the ground, the Azure-Clad Star Envoy produced a golden, radiant sacred decree. Activating its sacred power, she transformed into a streak of cyan light, breaking through the clouds and fleeing toward the horizon.
"Ye Honglei, Saintess of the Demon Sect, I'll remember today's grudge. Next time we meet, I'll tear you both limb from limb." The Azure-Clad Star Envoy's venomous voice came from beyond the sky.
This time, the Azure-Clad Star Envoy had suffered a major loss. Not only had all the heretical experts she brought been wiped out, but she herself was severely injured. It was a complete loss of face.
Today, defeat was certain. No matter how unwilling the Azure-Clad Star Envoy was, she couldn't turn the tide and could only flee first.
"You're lucky to have escaped."
The Red Desire Star Envoy snorted coldly. She and Mu Lingxi flew down almost simultaneously, landing on the ground at the bottom of the Drifting Sand Canyon.